Overview

• President Trump has publicly identified Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his top choices to succeed him in 2028, fueling speculation about a potential joint ticket.
• Marco Rubio now holds four significant roles in the administration: Secretary of State, interim National Security Adviser, acting head of USAID, and acting chief of the National Archives.
• Governance experts warn that managing multiple high-level positions could strain administrative capacity and create conflicts of interest.
• Rubio and Vance, former Senate colleagues, have aligned their policies with Trump's agenda, despite their earlier criticisms of him during past campaigns.
• Trump has stated it is too early to name a definitive successor, but his eventual endorsement is expected to heavily influence the 2028 Republican primary.